Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 11/29

Inside The Lines: Chiefs vs. Broncos from The Mothership

RB Jamaal Charles has 8,407 combined net yards for his career, to rank fifth on the all-time combined yards chart. Charles became just the sixth player in team history to record more than 8,000 combined yards. He needs 41 yards to pass RBs Abner Haynes and Priest Holmes (8,447) to move into third place in franchise history.

WR Dwayne Bowe's 6,205 receiving yards rank sixth in team history. Bowe needs 136 more receiving yards to pass WR Stephone Paige (6,341) for fifth and needs 155 yards to pass WR Carlos Carson (6,360) for fourth.

Chiefs Unplugged: I'm Thankful For... from The Mothership

Chiefs WR Dexter McCluster

"I'm most thankful for my family. I'm expecting another daughter, in seven days or less, so I'm thankful for her and my entire family. Our tradition is just family. I'm family-oriented. My mom, my oldest daughter, my father, so, it's all fun, family and laughter."

KCChiefs.com Video: Focus Pints For Week 13

KCChiefs.com Video: Inside The Game

NFL.com Video: Who Will Win Broncos-Chiefs Round Two?

Chiefs Eager For Broncos' Arrival To Arrowhead from Chiefs Spin

There's a difference the second time around between the Chiefs and Denver Broncos.

While both teams are coming off disappointing losses, the change has more to do with the absence of nonstop hype. In the first meeting two weeks ago, national media and TV satellite trucks converged on the Chiefs training facility, giving the Week 11 matchup a playoff-like atmosphere.

This week? Not so much.

Justin Houston May Miss 2-3 Weeks from ESPN

The Chiefs led the Chargers, 14-3, in the first half when Houston left the game. The Chargers scored 38 points after that, including the winning touchdown with less than 30 seconds left.

"Justin and I were in the training room, just watching the game," said Hali, who left the game earlier in the first half. "We could tell that we were needed in the game with our experience and how much we're hungry to get to the quarterback and just knowing what to do out there."

Chiefs' Smith Finally Letting Loose On Offense from The Associated Press via The State

So leave it to Smith's offensive coordinator, Doug Pederson, to explain exactly what it meant for the veteran quarterback to finally have a breakout performance.

"From a quarterback's perspective, it definitely helps his confidence," said Pederson, who spent seven seasons playing the position. "I think what you saw is what we've been talking about all year, things coming together for him at the right time."

Denver Broncos (9-2) At Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) from Lindy's Sports

PREDICTION: Broncos QB Peyton Manning left the first matchup two weeks ago with a uniform that barely needed to be washed - and that was when the Chiefs had their full complement of pass rushers. Minus Justin Houston and with Tamba Hali gimpy, K.C.'s backsliding defense will struggle to get off the field.

*Our pick: Broncos 31-23

Chiefs-Broncos Game Might Look Familiar from ESPN

If this Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos looks similar to the last one played between the teams, don't blame them. Blame the NFL's schedule-makers.

They're the ones who have the AFC West rivals playing both of their annual games this season within just two weeks.

Time To Be Thankful from Warpaint Illustrated

For yours truly, this time of year has always been one of reflection. So in that light, here are eight things I'm thankful in regards to my Kansas City Chiefs.

1. Clark Hunt - It took a big checkbook to dismiss the ‘Patriot Way' last January. It took an even bigger one to hire, Andy Reid, John Dorsey and their respective staffs. That big check the Chiefs Chairman wrote included multiple severance packages paying out tens of millions of dollars to employees who were under contract in 2013 and beyond that were suddenly without current employment.

Let's be honest for those that were around during the Chiefs dismal 2012 season, everyone knew significant changes had to be made. But I wonder how many felt Hunt would open up the family vault and write every check necessary to regain control of his NFL franchise.

Derek Wolfe Still Has Big Role With Less Weight For Broncos from The Denver Post

Running back Knowshon Moreno returned to practice Thursday, though he seemed to have a light workload.

He suffered a bruised right ankle on his 37th carry and 224th yard rushing last weekend at New England.

Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman are expected to be ready in case Moreno's playing time is limited Sunday at Kansas City against the Chiefs.

Home-Field Advantage In Sight from ESPN

Week 13 will go a long way toward determining home-field advantage in both conferences.

The Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs in a game that will produce a clear front-runner for the AFC's No. 1 seed. The Seattle Seahawks host the New Orleans Saints on Monday night, and the winner will be that much closer to home-field advantage in the NFC. These are four teams with seven losses among them.

This is only the second time since the 1970 merger that the two top teams in each conference have met on the same week this late in the season. The last time this happened was in Week 16 of 2008.

Sunday Slate: Analyzing Week 13 Matchups from MMQB

Instead of lining up in static pre-snap looks again, Sutton should use amorphous fronts with A-gap blitz looks. The Chiefs wouldn't have to actually bring the pressure. In fact, they could drop into an eight- or nine-man coverage on every snap. But using hard-to-read blitz-oriented fronts before the snap would compel the Broncos to adjust their protections and initially account for the possibility of a blitz. The A gaps, which are between the center and guards, are the only pass-rushing lanes where unblocked defenders can reach the quarterback in under two seconds.

There are other benefits to these pre-snap blitz looks. If Manning's ball is coming out in roughly two seconds, he's usually targeting short, underneath passing lanes-especially on inside throws. Kansas City's would-be blitzers can drop into those passing lanes. Besides breaking up passes, this could force Manning to hold onto the ball longer or, at the very least, compel him to throw more to the outside, where Kansas City's press corners would be playing with more aggression.

Tamme Turns Into Manning's Security Blanket from The Coloradoan

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't frustrating sometimes just because I know what I can do and everyone's eager to have that role and do those things," Tamme said. "But we've got a lot of good players on this team and that's the way it's been since I got here. So, Julius has done a great job.

"I feel like I can step in and go and make plays whenever my number's been called."

Tamme gave everyone a reminder of his value Sunday night when Thomas missed the game against the Patriots with a balky right knee.

Fantasy Watch: Thankful For Jamaal Charles from The Washington Post

During this Thanksgiving week though, it's time to acknowledge the handful of RB1s who actually are anchoring fantasy rosters and presumably leading owners into the playoffs. At the top of that list is Jamaal Charles, whose fantasy stock has risen more than any other running back over the past two seasons.

Charles is coming off his most productive outing of the season, rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns and adding four receptions for 42 yards. It was the ninth time in 11 games Charles has produced at least 100 yards from scrimmage and eighth time he's reached the end zone at least one time.

Former USC, Clemson Stars In NFL Make Wagers For Big Game from The State

Friendly wagers with teammates happen a lot in the NFL. Kansas City place-kicker Ryan Succop (USC '08) recently posed with Chiefs backup quarterback Chase Daniel (Missouri '08) in a Twitter picture while Daniel wore Succop's USC T-shirt and cap. The reason? The Gamecocks' 27-24 win against Missouri in October.

This week, as USC and Clemson get set to throw down for the 111th time, handshakes are common across NFL locker rooms that feature at least one alum of each school. They're not for camaraderie.

Broncos' Bailey: 'I'm Ready To Do More' from ESPN

For nine weeks this season Champ Bailey has watched the Denver Broncos go to work without him in the lineup. For nine weeks, he has patiently explained that when his left foot felt right he would be back on the field.

If all goes as Bailey expects in the coming days, Sunday will be that day and the Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium will be the place. Bailey originally suffered the injury in a preseason loss in Seattle in August and then re-aggravated it in an Oct. 20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

December Looms Large For All 32 Teams; 10 Things To Ponder from NFL.com

Who are you and what have you done with the Chiefs' defense? When the Broncos and Chiefs played just two weeks ago, Kansas City entered the game with the league's best scoring defense, yielding just 12.3 points per game. Since then, the Chiefs are tied for the worst scoring defense, allowing 34 points per game. And in November, when they played the Bills, Broncos and Chargers, the Chiefs gave up 462.7 yards per game -- worst in the NFL. One big problem: According to Pro Football Focus, their top three cornerbacks were targeted 22 times by the Chargers last week and allowed 17 receptions for 350 yards. Injuries to Justin Houston and Tamba Hali (who hopes to play in Sunday's rematch against Denver) further complicate the Chiefs' issues. But the Broncos' offense has slowed, too. Their three lowest point totals of the season -- 27, 28 and 31 -- have come in their last three games.

Baer, McVea Made 1963 Playoff Duel An Instant Classic from KENS

McVea was the first African American to play for the Cougars. He earned second-team All-America honors as a senior in 1967. McVea also played pro football for five seasons, winning a Super Bowl ring with the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs.

Baer was born in Junction City, Kan., and moved to San Antonio with his family before his eighth-grade year. He made the Lee varsity as a freshman in 1960, and started as a wingback.